Prospect Talent Score

Probability of Success

History

2009-10: Teuvo Teravainen skated for Jokerit Helsinki’s U16 and U18 squads and also represented Finland internationally at the U16 level. Playing for the U16 team (C juniors), he scored 17 goals with 22 assists and had 14 penalty minutes in 12 games. In 12 playoff contests he scored 7 goals with 10 assists and 18 penalty minutes. Teravainen skated in 29 regular season games and four playoff contest for the U18 (B Juniors) team and scored 16 goals with 18 assists and 6 PIMs. In thirteen international contests for Finland he scored 7 goals with 10 assists.

2010-11: Teravainen spent the bulk of the season with Jokerit’s U20 team, skating in four games for the U18 team, and also represented Finland at both the 2011 U18 World Junior Championship and the U17 World Hockey Challenge. Teravainen scored 3 goals with 17 assists and had 8 PIMs in 26 games for the U20 team. In eight A Juniors playoff games he scored 1 goals with 4 assists. In five games for Jokerit U18 (including one playoff game) he scored 1 goal with 4 assists. In the U18 WJC, he skated in six games for fifth-place Finland and was scoreless and minus-3 with 4 penalty minutes. At the U17 WHC he scored 2 goals with 5 assists in five games for Finland.

2011-12: Teravainen made his debut in Finland’s SM-Liiga and skated in 40 games for Jokerit as a 17-year-old. He joined the men’s team at Jokerit after a fast start with the club’s U20 team. Teravainen also played three games with Kiekko-Vantaa in Mestis and played for Finland at the 2012 U18 World Hockey Championship. Teravainen’s steady increase in ice time coincided with Jokerit’s turnaround and he played a key role in the club’s surprising playoff run to the SM-Liiga semifinals. During the regular season he finished with 11 goals and 7 assists and was minus-5 with 6 PIMs. In nine playoff games, he averaged over 15 minutes of ice time per game; scoring 2 goals with 4 assists and finishing plus-6. Jokerit defeated Espoo Blues in the bronze medal game. At the U18 WJC, Teravainen scored 2 goals with 6 assists and was plus-2 in six games as Finland advanced to the bronze medal game, falling to Canada in overtime. Teravainen was the second-ranked European skater in Central Scouting’s final rankings prior to the 2012 NHL Draft. Teravainen was chosen in the first round, 18th overall, of the 2012 NHL Draft by the Chicago Blackhawks.

2012-13: Teravainen’s second season in the SM-Liiga was a learning experience for the 18-year-old. He got off to a slow start – possibly due to the influx of NHL players in Finland’s SM-Liiga – but then hit his stride in the second half; finishing as Jokerit’s fifth-leading scorer with 13 goals and 18 assists in 44 games. Jokerit finished with the league’s top record but was defeated by 10th-place Lukko in a six-game playoff series. Teravainen scored 1 goal with 1 assist and had an even plus/minus in six playoff games. He skated for Finland in the 2013 World Junior Championship , finishing one point behind the team’s co-leading scorers with 5 goals and 7 assists in six games. The tournament was disappointing for Finland, which ended up in the relegation round.

2013-14: Teravainen made his NHL debut with the Blackhawks in March; joining Chicago and skating for the club’s AHL affiliate Rockford after Jokerit was eliminated from the Liiga playoffs in Finland. He was the captain for the gold medal-winning Finland squad at the 2014 World Juniors; leading all players in scoring. He had no points nor penalties with an even plus/minus; averaging 14 minutes of ice time for Chicago. In five AHL games with the IceHogs he scored 2 goals and was plus-2 with 2 penalty minutes. Teravainen led Jokerit in scoring as a 19-year-old. In 49 regular season games he scored 9 goals with 35 assists and was minus-2 with 12 penalty minutes. He was minus-1 with no points nor penalties in Jokerit’s two-game preliminary series with HPK. Teravainen scored 2 goals with a tournament-leading 13 assists and was plus-11 with 2 penalty minutes in seven games at the WJC. Finland defeated Sweden, 3-2, in overtime in the gold medal game.

2014-15: Teravainen made his NHL debut with the Blackhawks in a January 4th game against Detroit. He played in 34 regular season games and competed in 18 of 23 playoff games for the Stanley Cup champions. Teravainen scored 4 goals with 5 assists and was +4 with 2 penalty minutes, averaging 12:47 minutes of ice time during the regular season. He scored 4 goals with 5 assists and was +2 with no penalties, averaging 13:28 minutes of ice time in the playoffs. Teravainen played 39 games for Chicago AHL affiliate Rockford prior to his call-up. He scored 6 goals with 19 assist and was -6 with 6 penalty minutes with the IceHogs.

Talent Analysis

Teravainen is a skilled forward with soft hands and hockey sense. He has the potential to be an offensive factor every time he touches the ice. An explosive skater who uses his speed to beat defenders one-on-one and create space for his linemates, Teravainen is especially effective on the power play, where he is a talented distributor and can utilize his heavy one-timer. Teravainen can create chances on the rush and make plays at high speed. His defensive zone play is inconsistent and he will need to continue adding strength to become more effective in one-on-one situations. Teravainen can play wing or center.

Future

Teravainen was dealt along with Bryan Bickell by the Chicago Blackhawks to the Carolina Hurricanes in exchange for a pair of draft picks. Teravainen's skill set suggests he can be a top-flight playmaking forward. He should continue to improve as he adds the strength and bulk necessary to compete in small spaces.

Finnish forward and team captain Teuvo Teravainen has turned in an impressive performance so far at the 2014 World Junior Championship. He has worn the “C” with great distinction, and now has helped to bring his country to their first gold medal game appearance at this tournament in 13 years.

The selection of talented Finnish forward Teuvo Teravainen added skill and offensive flash to the depth forwards and defensemen in the Chicago system. (courtesy of Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

Three of the Blackhawks' new additions from the 2012 NHL Draft make their debut in the new edition of the team's top 20 rankings, but the most significant storylines heading into the season belong to the prospects playing at the pro level. The NHL work stoppage will lead to a bevy of talent in the Rockford IceHogs lineup, including players like Nick Leddy, Marcus Kruger, and Brandon Saad who would have had a good chance of breaking camp with a spot in the Blackhawks lineup.

Teuvo Teravainen’s stock for the 2012 NHL Draft has risen faster than he can skate a lap around an international-sized ice rink. And if we are to believe what scouts are saying about the latter, that’s faster than most of the prospects available in this year’s crop of future hockey stars.

Photo: Talented Finnish winger Teuvo Teravainen experienced a steady climb up the draft rankings during the 2011-12 season (courtesy of Ken McKenna/HF)

Finnish forward Teuvo Teravainen has experienced a slow, steady climb up the 2012 draft prospect charts, to the point where the Helsinki, Finland native is considered a legitimate top 10 selection for the coming NHL Draft.